Foundation concerned about non-disclosure of sex-offenders’ names

The Lisa Maria Foundation yesterday expressed concern that the name of the male coach responsible for a team of female players who was found guilty of installing webcams to ‘peep’ on his female team members was not disclosed.

In a statement, the Lisa Maria Foundation said it finds it incredible that the Court finds no difficulty in naming and shaming persons who commit minor crimes, such as stealing small amounts of money or for that matter producing meat pies without a permit, but protects the identity of sex offenders.

Whilst it is understood that one needs to protect the identity of the victim/s, the naming and shaming of sex offenders will serve as a huge deterrent to others to think carefully of the consequences before committing any type of sex offence.

There is also the question of the citizen’s right to know if a sex offender is a neighbour or is at the same place of work or is present at his/her children’s school or training ground putting at constant risk family members, friends and young people.

If sex offenders are not named how is it possible for an employer to make sure that he/she is not introducing a sex offender amongst innocent and possibly vulnerable employees? Laws, today, impose on employers the legal obligation to check on potential employees to ensure that they are not sex offenders. All sex offenders’ names should go on the register of sex offenders, the foundation said.

The Lisa Maria Foundation is calling on the courts to stop once and for all sheltering the guilty from the public. The law abiding public and vulnerable groups cannot be put at risk from the sex offenders as happened recently when a convicted sex offender was found driving a mini bus with children to and from school. The public must be informed as to who has been found guilty of a sex offence.